Partly due to their colour, beets are a powerhouse of nutrients that may significantly improve your health in a variety of ways. Red fruits and vegetables are packed with powerful, healthy antioxidants like lycopenfood ane and anthocyanins that may do everything from fighting heart disease and cancer to decreasing the risk of stroke and macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in people older than 60). Antioxidants soak up damaging free radicals.
The red colour helps with detoxification
The red colour of beetroot comes from betalain pigments. The betalain pigments support the body’s Phase 2 detoxification process, which is when broken down toxins are bound to other molecules so they can be excreted from your body. Traditionally beets are valued for their support in detoxification and helping to purify the blood and liver.
Unique source of betaine
Beets are a unique source of betaine, a nutrient that helps protect cells, proteins and enzymes from environmental stress. It’s also known to help fight inflammation, protect internal organs, improve vascular risk factors, enhance performance, and help prevent numerous chronic diseases.
Anti-cancer properties
The powerful phytonutrients that give beets their deep crimson colour may help to ward off cancer. Beetroot extract is being studied for use in treating human pancreatic, breast and prostate cancers.
Lowers blood pressure
Drinking beetroot juice may help to lower blood pressure in a matter of hours. This is probably due to the naturally occurring nitrates in beets, which are converted into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide helps to relax and dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure.
Rich in valuable nutrients and fibre
Beets are high in immune-boosting vitamin C, fibre and essential minerals like potassium (essential for healthy nerve and muscle function) and manganese (which is good for your bones, liver, kidneys and pancreas).
More iron than spinach
Try to buy beets with their green leafy tops as they are a super healthy part of the plant. Beet greens have more iron than spinach as well as a higher nutritional value overall than the beetroot itself. Besides containing important nutrients like protein, phosphorus, zinc, fibre, vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese, beet greens also supply significant amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.
Beetroot greens may:
Help ward off osteoporosis by boosting bone strength
Fight Alzheimer’s disease. Strengthen your immune system by stimulating the production of antibodies and white blood cells
Beet greens can be added raw to vegetable juice or sautéed lightly with other greens like spinach and Swiss chard in a bit of olive oil. Enjoy them on their own as a salad or with other leafy vegetables. Add a splash of virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a sprinkling of good salt.
In other news – This is how happy couples resolve issues
While all couples tend to fight on issues like children, money, and in-laws, researchers say that what distinguishes happy couples from others is their approach to conflict. Happy couples tend to take a solution-oriented approach to conflict and this is clear even in the topics that they choose to discuss,” said study lead author Amy Rauer, Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee in the US.
For the study, published in the journal Family Process, the research team observed two samples of heterosexual, mostly white, educated couples who described themselves as happily married. Fifty-seven of the couples were in their mid- to late 30s and had been married for an average of nine years; 64 of the couples were in their early 70s and had been married for an average of 42 years. Read more
Source: The Citizen
